Archive for category: Daily Meanderings

“Our deepest fear is that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? Your...

I have been reading Bernard Berenson’s The Venetian Painters of the Renaissance (published in 1894) and I came across this piece which I found quite deep and interesting, so I thought I would share it with you. “The Renaissance had resulted in the emancipation of the individual, in making him feel...

Giovanni Pontano (1458-1530) was a key figure in the court of Alfonso ‘the Magnanimous’ in Naples, and amongst the many early works he wrote for his patron was the long poem Parthenopeus (c.1450) which was a eulogy of sort to Bacchus and the restorative powers of wine. This was one of the first...

As is my want, I often pick up one of Lawrence Durrell’s books where he writes of his sojourns in the Mediterranean. His poignant lyrical words feed my soul and I can sit for sometime after reading contemplating what his life was like and what it would have been...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair,...

Hello friends After what I would describe as “a year to forget” I am pleased to announce that Mediterranean Meanderings will be back in 2016 with a new focus with what I hope you will find to be more diverse and informative content. There will also be an...

Recently I have been doing a lot of reading about mindfulness and what brings out spontaneous creativity in the individual – fascinating stuff and it has all been very helpful to me. One piece I read was by journalist and psychologist Otje van de Lelij in Flow magazine, where...

There is a story about Suleiman the Magnificent and red wine that goes like this…. During the 1550s, Suleiman the Magnificent was preparing for the siege of the Eger Castle in the Beech Mountains of northern Hungary. The castle was defended by some 2000 soldiers and civilians led by a Captain Istvan Dobó,...

Here is a piece taken from the wonderful book “The Artist’s Lunch” by Alice McCormack and Sarah Rhodes on the thoughts of Anne Zahalka on an artist’s lunch. Read slowly and immerse in the imagery…… “If I were to develop an idea around the artist’s lunch myself, I would...

Here is a little treat from Don Quixote about Sancho Panza’s wine-tasting kinsmen. I love it!! Enjoy….. “It is with good reason, says Sancho to the squire with the great nose, that I pretend to have a judgment in wine. This is a quality hereditary in our family. Two...

Welcome to my love affair with the food, wine, history and culture of the Mediterranean, past and present. Here you will find not only recipes, drinks and fabulous products, but the history of the food and culture of the Mediterranean.

My purpose is to get you to explore and experience new tastes and along the way to immerse yourself in the wonderful history of this diverse and wonderful region – from Venice to Istanbul, Rome to Dubrovnik, Athens to Crete and all places in between and in the surrounds. Be prepared to be surprised, delighted and enthralled as you take this trip with me.

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Jen Smith – Med Meanderings

This blog is dedicated to the region of the Mediterranean - its history, art, music,culture, food, and wine. Here you will find historical comment, famous and not so famous works of art, places to visit, food and wine to try (including recipes), as well as book reviews, music to listen to, as well as numerous pieces on Mediterranean life as I see them. There will also be some academic scholarship. I do hope that you will enjoy my blog.